Barnette
Songster
Hi, I have a young blind hen named Pinky who's had lice for a while. I've been treating her with a naturally-based pest spray that seemed to be working, but I don't want to spray her anymore since it's cold out, and I worried some of the bugs were developing an immunity. Pinky lives with two other healthy hens in a medium-sized coop, with a large run. I let them in the garden to dustbathe on nice days but Pinky doesn't dustbathe well, she just sits in the dirt. Sometimes I put some ash (old stuff from the woodstove) on her skin to kill the bugs but I didn't want to do too much because I thought it could make her skin dry. She also doesn't preen. The other hens who live with her keep themselves very clean and I've only seen a couple lice on them, but Pinky's feathers are kind of dirty and dry. She didn't really molt this year.
I'm wondering what kind of naturally-based pesticide I can use to treat Pinky (and her friends, just in case) without having to spray her with liquid because she'll get cold. I've heard of Permethrin but I'm hesitant to use it because it's so strong, and I don't want it to affect the nearby wildlife if it gets in the run/outside.
Also, Pinky seems to have a few broken/twisted feathers that look uncomfortable, how can I fix that? I'll try to get pics tomorrow. I'll be giving her a "spa day" this weekend, a warm bath in the basement to clean her feathers. I can trim her feathers or something. I'm worried this will stress her out, cuz she can't see what's going on, but I think it's necessary... what do you think?
Thank you in advance for your suggestions! I'm currently kind of snowed-in and postal service is temporarily canceled in my area due to storms, so it would be best if the treatment is something I could find/make at home. But I'd try to get to a store if necessary. Thanks!
I'm wondering what kind of naturally-based pesticide I can use to treat Pinky (and her friends, just in case) without having to spray her with liquid because she'll get cold. I've heard of Permethrin but I'm hesitant to use it because it's so strong, and I don't want it to affect the nearby wildlife if it gets in the run/outside.
Also, Pinky seems to have a few broken/twisted feathers that look uncomfortable, how can I fix that? I'll try to get pics tomorrow. I'll be giving her a "spa day" this weekend, a warm bath in the basement to clean her feathers. I can trim her feathers or something. I'm worried this will stress her out, cuz she can't see what's going on, but I think it's necessary... what do you think?
Thank you in advance for your suggestions! I'm currently kind of snowed-in and postal service is temporarily canceled in my area due to storms, so it would be best if the treatment is something I could find/make at home. But I'd try to get to a store if necessary. Thanks!
